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Gender-specific effects of prenatal famine exposure on educational attainment: Accounting for selective mortality

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  • Kasahara, Hiroyuki
  • Zhou, Weina

Abstract

Selective mortality and fertility issues are persistent challenges in estimating the fetal origin effect, with attempts to address these issues being notably scarce. Evidence further suggests that selective mortality is more pronounced in males than in females. This study investigates the causal effects of prenatal exposure to the Great Chinese Famine on educational attainment by addressing gender-specific selection bias. We compare exposed individuals with their unexposed, same-gender siblings, using a famine intensity measure based on county–year level excess death rates. Our findings reveal remarkably similar consequences for both genders: on average, famine exposure increased illiteracy rates by 4 percentage points and decreased years of schooling by 0.3 years for both males and females. These results contribute to our understanding of the long-term impacts of prenatal malnutrition, while accounting for gender-specific selection biases.

Suggested Citation

  • Kasahara, Hiroyuki & Zhou, Weina, 2026. "Gender-specific effects of prenatal famine exposure on educational attainment: Accounting for selective mortality," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:107:y:2026:i:c:s0167629626000317
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2026.103133
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education

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